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Mangrove conservation efforts in Thoothukudi coast
July 24 , 2026
15 hrs 0 min
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- Mangrove conservation efforts flourish along Thoothukudi coast with over 140 hectares restored in four years.
- The restoration has been carried out under various initiatives including Green Tamil Nadu Mission, Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project for Climate Change Response (TNGPCCR), Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resources and Blue Economy (TN-SHORE) Mission and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
- Mangroves serve as a natural buffer against coastal erosion, cyclonic storm surges, tidal inundation and saline intrusion.
- The forest department is focusing on the restored areas in Punnakayal belt, where the Thamirabarani river estuary is located.
- As part of the restoration efforts, fishbone channel designs have been implemented to ensure that tidal water reaches every corner of the mangrove ecosystem.
- Mangrove species such as Avicennia marina have been planted in most of the restored areas due to its high tolerance to salinity.
- While Rhizophora mucronata has also been introduced in suitable locations.
- The mangroves also support rich marine and estuarine biodiversity and serve as a vital nursing and breeding ground of fish, prawn and other aquatic organism.
- Thus, it is contributing significantly to the local fisheries.
- In addition, they also play an important role in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration.
- And they provide essential ecosystem services that sustain the livelihood of coastal and mangrove dependent communities.
- There are also plans under way to plant associated species such as Salvadora persica to prevent the spread of Prosopis juliflora.
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